Majority of U.S. citizens question the cost-saving claims made by Elon Musk's organization.
Rewritten Article:
Title: Americans Skeptical About Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and Elon Musk's Role
Donald Trump established the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) to tackle waste and trim down the federal government during his second term. However, recent surveys reveal that Americans are doubtful about seeing a reduction in government redundancies.
These polls, including the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll from April 18 to 22, indicate that just 43 percent of U.S. adults perceive a decline in government waste since January. A majority of respondents, about 31 percent, think waste has remained constant, while 25 percent believe it has increased.
Similarly, only 32 percent of respondents report a decrease in government fraud since January. On the contrary, 34 percent state fraud has risen, and 34 percent claim it has stayed roughly the same.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been a driving force behind the DOGE. Yet, his involvement in the DOGE has raised concerns as the department made headlines for agencies layoffs and attempts to delve into private tax data. Perhaps this explains why Trump's approval rating has dropped to 39 percent, approaching his 100-day milestone on April 30.
Musk aims to save $150 billion (approximately €131 billion) in the current fiscal year, though this is far below the initial $2 trillion (approximately €1.76 trillion) he wished to cut from the federal budget.
The public's view of Elon Musk's role within the government has become increasingly divisive. In the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, 35 percent approved of Musk's work, while 57 percent expressed disapproval. This marks a decrease from February's 34 percent approval rate and 49 percent disapproval rate.
Unpopularity on the Rise
Indeed, the tech mogul has grown more contentious since Trump returned to the White House. His disapproval rating regarding his government work is now 57 percent, with 35 percent approving.
Since the beginning of Trump's second term, Musk has defended DOGE's budget and staff cuts in multiple departments. He took a leading role in targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, significantly reducing their resources in the White House.
Recently, Musk announced that he would step back from his responsibilities with the government to concentrate on Tesla, as the company experienced a dip in sales compared to the previous year in the first quarter. The White House and DOGE did not comment on our request for a statement.
- What's your perspective on the efficiency of Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), given its proposed role in reducing government waste and redundancies?
- Considering the recent polls, including the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, does it seem that government waste has decreased under Donald Trump's administration since January?
- Elon Musk aims to save $150 billion in the current fiscal year through his role in the DOGE, but this is far less than his initial goal of $2 trillion from the federal budget. Do you agree with his efforts to integrate policy-and-legislation within the DOGE?
- The public's view of Elon Musk's role within the government has become increasingly divisive. Following the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, 57 percent expressed disapproval of Musk's government work, while only 35 percent approved. Despite his efforts to defend the DOGE's budget and staff cuts, politics surrounding the department remains a question of agreement among the general news sector.
